Minutes of Proceedings

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Assembly Business

2.1 Resignations

The Speaker informed Members that he had received letters from Mr Pat Doherty, Ms Michelle Gildernew, Mr Paul Maskey and Mr Conor Murphy resigning as Members of the Assembly with effect from noon on Monday 2 July 2012. The Speaker advised that he had notified the Chief Electoral Officer, in accordance with Section 35 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Motion - Suspend Standing Orders

Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 25 June 2012.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

3.2 Statement - Capital Investment: The Next Steps

The Minister of Education, Mr John O’Dowd, made a statement regarding Capital Investment: The Next Steps, following which he replied to questions.

3.4 First Stage - Business Improvement Districts Bill (NIA 9/11-15)

The Minister for Social Development, Mr Nelson McCausland, introduced a Bill to make provision for business improvement districts and for connected purposes.

Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

3.5 First Stage - Criminal Justice Bill (NIA 10/11-15)

The Minister of Justice, Mr David Ford, introduced a Bill to amend the law relating to sex offender notification, sexual offences prevention orders and human trafficking and to provide for the destruction, retention, use and other regulation of certain fingerprints and DNA samples and profiles.

5. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

The Minister for Social Development, Mr Nelson McCausland, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer, tabled by Mr Phil Flanagan.

5.2 Backlog of unreported x-rays at Royal Victoria Hospital

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Edwin Poots, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer, tabled by Ms Sue Ramsey, Chairperson of the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.